REST vs GraphQL: Choosing an API Style
Compare REST and GraphQL on data fetching, caching, versioning, performance and security, with guidance on when each fits, plus gRPC and tRPC.
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Web Development
Stacks, databases, deployment and marketing for websites you host yourself.
Where Is the PHP Error Log? Enable, Find and Read PHP Errors
Find and configure PHP error logs: error_log and log_errors, PHP-FPM pool logs, Nginx and Apache logs, per-site logs, display_errors off, slow log, rotation.
API Rate Limiting: Algorithms, Headers and Implementation
Protect APIs with rate limiting: fixed and sliding windows, token buckets, per-key vs per-IP limits, 429 responses, Nginx and Redis setups.
Node.js Cluster Mode: Use All CPU Cores (PM2, cluster, Docker)
Use all CPU cores with Node.js: PM2 cluster mode, the cluster module, Docker replicas behind Nginx, shared state in Redis, WebSocket sticky sessions, reloads.
Laravel Task Scheduler: One Cron Entry for All Scheduled Jobs
Set up the Laravel scheduler with one cron entry or a systemd timer, define tasks, prevent overlaps, run on one server and debug missed runs.
Install Bun on Linux and Run a Bun App in Production
Install the Bun runtime on a Linux server, use it as a package manager, run a Bun HTTP server under systemd behind Nginx, and know its caveats.
How to Install MariaDB on Ubuntu, Debian, AlmaLinux and Rocky
Install and secure MariaDB on Ubuntu, Debian, AlmaLinux or Rocky, create a database user, allow remote access safely, tune and back up.
Hreflang Guide: Multilingual and Multi-Region SEO Done Right
Implement hreflang for multilingual sites: language and region codes, return links, x-default, HTML vs sitemap vs headers, URL structures, and common errors.
Nginx default_server: Catch Unknown Hosts and IP Requests
How Nginx picks a server block for unknown hostnames, why you need a catch-all default server, and how to reject IP and bogus-host requests on HTTP and HTTPS.
Nginx Rewrite and Redirect Rules: return vs rewrite Examples
Write Nginx redirects and rewrites correctly: return for simple redirects, rewrite with regex and flags, maps for many redirects, .htaccess rules.
Install Java (OpenJDK) on Ubuntu and Debian
Install OpenJDK 17, 21 or newer on Ubuntu or Debian, choose JRE vs JDK, switch between versions, set JAVA_HOME, and run Java apps as a systemd service.
Django Static and Media Files in Production: Nginx or WhiteNoise
Fix missing CSS in production Django: STATIC_ROOT and collectstatic, Nginx or WhiteNoise, media uploads, cache headers, manifest storage, S3, and permissions.
Canonical URLs: Fix Duplicate Content the Right Way
How rel=canonical works: when to use it, self-referencing tags, parameters, HTTP headers for PDFs, canonical vs redirect vs noindex, and common mistakes.
Front-End Frameworks Compared: React, Vue, Svelte, Astro
React, Vue, Svelte, Angular, Astro and lighter options compared: what each is best at, how they render, and what they need from hosting.
Is a .link Domain a Good Choice? Uses, Pros and Cons
What a .link domain is good for — link-in-bio pages, short links, link hubs — and the trade-offs in trust, email and SEO versus .com.